The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Commander Delavan Bloodgood Downer, United States Navy, for distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. AMMEN, engaged in the important, exacting, and hazardous duty of patrolling the waters infested by enemy submarines and mines, protecting vitally important convoys of troops and supplies, in escorting and protecting vitally important convoys of troops and supplies through these waters and in offensive and defensive action vigorously and unremittingly prosecuted against all forms of enemy naval activity during World War I.